Recommended Free Tools
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
On April 17, 1998, Asyst Technologies announced that it had finalized its acquisition of Fluoroware’s Fluorotrac automated radio-frequency-identification (RFID) technology. The stated aim was to automate work-in-progress (WIP) tracking inside semiconductor factories. The announcement concerned the technology—not, on the available evidence, Fluoroware as a whole.
What Asyst acquired
The archived announcement described Asyst’s acquisition of Fluoroware’s Fluorotrac automated RFID technology. EE Times and EDN published the announcement on April 23, 1998, reporting that the transaction had been finalized six days earlier. Neither version specifies a purchase price or says that Asyst bought Fluoroware’s entire business, facilities, workforce, or all of its assets. EE Times’ archived report and EDN’s reproduced version contain substantially the same announcement.
What Fluorotrac was intended to do
In a semiconductor fab, work in progress means production moving through successive manufacturing steps. The announcement positioned Fluorotrac as a way to track that movement automatically and collect process data, reducing reliance on labor-intensive manual operations and the risk of misprocessing or other operational errors.
That is the level of detail the announcement supports. It does not identify what items carried tags, describe the readers or software, give an RFID frequency or protocol, or explain how the system connected with fab-control software. It also reports no measured changes in yield, throughput, or cycle time.
#1 Best Overall
- RFID Reader Scanner read both 125KHz/13.56Mhz 1326 family ISO Prox whole family cards & EM ID EM4100 cards together, MF S50 S70 bank card and other 14443A protocol labels that support ISO14443-A/B protocol, ID card and other 14443B protocol labelsHID USB device no driver request.
- 125KHz/13.56Mhz Dual-frequency RFID reader supports EM4100 ID cards and also 1326 1346 1386 ISO Prox card, H10301 H10304 format etc.
- RFID Reader with 40 output formats for EM4100 ID card UID, max. 40 bits card number in 10H or 13 digital decimal format, configurable with config card by user.
- Proximity card reader sends 125KHz/13.56Mhz Dual-frequency proximity card 1326 family card number in 40 type formats or in raw wiegand bit data format, from 24 bit to 80 bits data, easy for understanding 1326 family card type.
- USB Inteface,Card reader only, Open the software or document that needs to be read,simulate keyboard input, works in Linux Andriod Windows Mac IOS.
How RFID fit Asyst’s tracking portfolio
Asyst described two WIP-tracking systems under the SMART-Traveler name: an RF-based system and an infrared-based system. Both were presented as tools for automated tracking and process-data collection intended to help reduce misprocessing and other operational errors. The announcement does not say that Fluorotrac and SMART-Traveler were the same product, that Fluorotrac was immediately rebranded, or that the systems were technically combined.
The presence of both approaches matters because the deal was framed as broadening Asyst’s tracking options, not as a documented replacement of infrared with RFID. In general, RF and infrared identification can involve different communication and deployment considerations, but the report provides no product-specific comparison of range, line-of-sight requirements, environmental limits, or cost. Those characteristics should not be inferred for Asyst’s systems from the announcement alone.
Rank #2
- New Metal Case RFID Reader Durable, Beautiful and More Accurate Reading.Note: 1. Not compatible with Mac, need to use with USB converter. 2. Windows system if you can not use, you need to install a patch in Windows: VCRedist 2008 SP1 (x64). 3. H10301, 8310 card does not support reading, setup tools, please go to the last link to download, thanks!
- RFID Reader Scanner read both 125KHz/13.56Mhz 1326 family ISO Prox whole family cards & EM ID EM4100 cards together, MF S50 S70 bank card and other 14443A protocol labels that support ISO14443-A/B protocol, ID card and other 14443B protocol labelsHID USB device no driver request.
- RFID Reader with 40 output formats for EM4100 ID card UID, max. 40 bits card number in 10H or 13 digital decimal format, configurable with config card by user.
- Proximity card reader sends 125KHz/13.56Mhz Dual-frequency proximity card 1326 family card number in 40 type formats or in raw wiegand bit data format, from 24 bit to 80 bits data, easy for understanding 1326 family card type.
- USB Inteface,Card reader only, Open the software or document that needs to be read,simulate keyboard input, works in Linux Andriod Windows Mac IOS.
Why Asyst saw a market opportunity
Asyst said more than 400 established six-inch and eight-inch wafer facilities could benefit from an automated WIP-tracking solution, in addition to fabs planned for next-generation devices. That was the company’s estimate of potential opportunity in 1998—not a verified count of customers, installations, or purchases. The archived reports do not define the estimate’s geography or methodology.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
In practical terms, the strategic case was that automated identification could connect the movement of production with its associated processing records, while reducing manual tracking work. This helps explain why Asyst presented RFID as an addition to its factory-automation business. It does not establish that the technology delivered particular financial or manufacturing results.
Rank #3
- RFID Reader read both 125KHz 1326 family ISO Prox whole family cards & ID 4100 RF/64 RF/32 cards together, USB device no driver request.
- 125KHz RFID reader supports 4100 ID cards and also 1326 1346 1386 ISO Prox card, 10301 10304 format etc.
- RFID Reader with 40 output formats for ID card UID, max. 40 bits card number in 10H or 13 digital decimal format, configurable with config card by user.
- Proximity card reader sends 125KHz proximity card 1326 family card number in 40 type formats or in raw wiegand bit data format, from 24 bit to 80 bits data, easy for understanding 1326 family card type
- Advanced config process allow user to choice 20 clients format output and set prefix/suffix, ingore leading zero. This is read only. If you want to write card with ID/FC number, you may go ASIN：B0BCYRSLSF
What the 1998 announcement leaves unanswered
The archived copies establish the announced transaction and its intended application, but they do not provide the information needed to reconstruct its commercial scope or later outcome.
- Deal terms: No price, payment structure, or detailed acquisition agreement is given.
- Assets and rights: The reports do not say whether the deal covered patents, software, hardware designs, customer contracts, or exclusive rights.
- People and company status: They do not say whether Fluoroware staff transferred or whether Fluoroware continued operating independently.
- Product adoption: No customers, deployments, installation count, or integration timetable are identified.
- Technical detail and later history: The reports do not provide specifications, a product roadmap, or follow-up on what happened to Fluorotrac.
Accordingly, the announcement is evidence of a 1998 technology acquisition and its stated purpose—not evidence that the system was widely deployed, that the transaction succeeded financially, or that Fluorotrac is available or supported today.
Rank #4
- 【Instant Plug & Play Setup】: No external power supply or battery needed. Simply connect the contactless card reader to your computer’s USB port, and it’s ready to use instantly—no complicated setup, and no additional software or drivers required, saving your time on installation.
- 【Lightning-Fast Performance】：Boost your efficiency with a high-speed response time of less than 0.2s. This 125kHz reader offers a stable reading distance of up to 8cm (depending on the tag type used), ensuring quick and reliable data capture without the frustration of repeated swipes.
- 【Universal OS Compatibility】：Designed for seamless integration across all your devices. This contactless reader fully supports Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Chrome OS, and Android 7.0+. Whether you're using a PC, laptop, or tablet, it provides consistent performance across multiple platforms.
- 【Standardized Data Output】：Specifically engineered for EM4100, EM4200, and TK4100 cards/tags. It automatically outputs the first 10 digits in a standardized format, making it perfect for office attendance, library management, and inventory tracking without manual entry errors.
- 【Standardized & Customizable Output】：Specifically engineered for EM4100, EM4200, and TK4100 cards/tags. By default, it automatically outputs the first 10 digits, making it perfect for office attendance and inventory tracking. Need a different format? Use our exclusive configuration tool to customize data output (such as 8-digit HEX, reversed formats, or adding a suffix like "Enter"), Setting tool is compatible with Windows system Only.
Historical significance
The deal illustrates how Asyst was positioning automated identification as part of semiconductor-factory tracking at a time when its stated opportunity included established six-inch and eight-inch wafer facilities as well as planned fabs for next-generation devices. The announcement’s emphasis on tracking, process data, and reducing manual operations reflects the operational rationale Asyst offered for the acquisition. Beyond that stated rationale, the short archival reports do not establish the technology’s adoption or long-term impact.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- . IC card USB reader, Send data to cursor location, HID USB no driver is requested
- . usb reader supports iso14443A protocol cards
- .Support 4 byte UID and 7 byte UID 13.56M card
- .Emualte USB keyboard output, so easy interfaced into RFID system without changing the original software or program, selectable 28 formats are suitable for most common system
- .Default setting is 8H 10D format, Send card data in 10 digital datas to focused window as an external input device
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
